SaltCON 2013

It’s safe to say most everyone grew up playing board games with siblings and friends, building skills for future careers as homicide detectives, property managers and world conquerors. Even if you got into video games later in life, you can’t beat the satisfaction of gathering with friends over a few beers and beating everyone by chance laced with some skill.

The love for board gaming is what inspired the organizers behind SaltCON to throw an annual event focused on the group pastime. Like other conventions across the country, this is the place to see the latest in board-game development, as most of the games on display are completely new to the public. Whatever genre you’re into, you’ll find it happening at one of the tables. Dice play, card games, token movers, trivia, puzzlers and many more, ranging from two to 10 players, are all present, with the game’s designer right there to both introduce the game and play with you. Many of the featured games have barely rolled off the assembly line from independent developers who are looking to beta-test them with willing participants, in the hope of getting their game on the shelves of every minor gaming store and major toy aisle around the world.

The three-day event will include gaming nights, tournaments for both single players and teams, group demos and exhibitions, and specialty awards for the highest-achieving games of the convention. Be ready to get your game on for a group experience you may not get to play again. (Gavin Sheehan)